The Director-General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mallam Farouk Salim, yesterday warned Nigerians against the patronage and procurement of substandard and fake products, stating that it encourages insecurity across the country.
He explained that while Nigerians patronise fake products instead of authentic ones, this causes the genuine companies to close shop, hence creating more unemployed youths, which leads to insecurity and a life of crime.
He, however, stated that the biggest achievement of his agency in the last two years is the sensitization of Nigerians to understand the dangers of consuming substandard products, and desist from their consumption, among other achievements like the creation of regional laboratories and directorates for efficient more access of Nigerians to its activities, attainment of international accreditation for three additional laboratories for testing paints, electrical cables and food (micro-nutrients), etc.
Speaking in Abuja during a briefing to commemorate the agency’s 50th anniversary, he said: “Our major achievement is the sensitization of the Nigerian public to substandard goods, and the realisation that SON is here as a partner to help them avoid sub-standard goods, and also to help our industry realize the importance of following standards.
This sensitization led to one of our biggest eureka moments, which is linking substandard goods to insecurity and making people realize that everytime you buy a substandard or fake product, they are aiding and abetting the closing of our industry and helping our youths to be unemployed.
“It is a big achievement for us to link sub-standard goods, sensitize the public on their importance in fighting these substandard goods, and also for the industry to realize that we are important in this process of protecting the jobs and industry of Nigeria.”